South African Vigilante Groups Demand Undocumented Migrants Leave by June 30 as Neighboring Countries Begin Repatriations

Vigilante groups in South Africa are going door to door demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country by the end of June. The groups have targeted migrants in multiple provinces, according to AllAfrica reporting on 5 June 2026. Hundreds of Mozambican citizens have already returned home.

Ghana and Nigeria have begun repatriating their nationals, while Kenya, Lesotho and Zimbabwe have urged their citizens to exercise caution. South African police warned anti-immigration groups not to take the law into their own hands after two Mozambicans were killed in the southern coastal town of Mossel Bay.

Authorities said the deaths occurred during activities associated with anti-foreigner demonstrations at the weekend.

The Mozambican government stated that five of its citizens were killed as a direct consequence of the xenophobic attacks. South African police rejected that statement. The NGO Xeno Watch has recorded more than 1,000 instances of attacks since 1994, with a surge beginning in 2008.

Attacks have included individual assaults and the looting or burning of shops owned by migrants. Operation Dudula emerged in 2021-2022 and gained notoriety for blocking access to hospitals and schools. South African courts declared its actions illegal last year.

The March and March movement was launched last year by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, a radio presenter with a significant audience. Both groups have focused their campaigns on undocumented migrants. Estimates of the number of undocumented migrants in South Africa range from 4 million to 15 million.